Add a bit of spice before the competitive games start

• Grapefruit League time
• Spring training time
• A period prior to the beginning of the regular season which is devoted to training and preparation
• Like some exhibition games
• Spring-training period
• Like pro baseball in February
• Continue drinking tea, heading off before serious play starts
• Before league games begin

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a period prior to the beginning of the regular season which is devoted to training and preparation

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. The period before the start of a sporting season, during which players undergo training and venues are prepared vb. (context transitive English) To season in advance.